Essential Oils and Cats

I just completed a short online course about essential oils and would like to share a warning about essential oils and cats. NEVER use any type of essential oil directly on a cat, not even blended in a carrier oil. They are way too strong for cats and are actually toxic. Not the same as other mammals, like dogs and horses, cats do not have the type of liver enzymes to break them down and get them out of their systems and essential oils could literally poison your cat to the point of death. It may be possible to use hydrosols, the byproduct of the steam distillation process of certain plants used to make essential oils, they are considerably weaker. But please make sure you know what you are doing and using on your cats. Once their liver is severely affected it may never be normal again. They cannot process essential oils just like they cannot process certain chemicals, that may be present in your cleaning products. I've seen several posts here, even if old, where the question was asked maybe a bit too late. Flower essences and Bach Flower Rescue Remedy are not the same as essential oils, but again make sure to respect your kitty's body, nose and metabolism. Maybe even take a look at cleaners you are using, citrus and herbal based cleaners while natural, can really be aggravating to your cat and his nose and paws are much closer to the floor you just cleaned. Don't use them to keep the litter box smelling good. If you want to use a diffuser for yourself, make sure to keep kitty out of the room for a few hours after it has finished. Never keep him enclosed in a room with a diffuser going. I'm sure someone will know the specific essential oils that could be extremely detrimental to cats, but know that generally speaking all essential oils are too strong and down right toxic for cats.

I guess next time I use my diffuser, better make sure no kitties are in the room. I use essential oils quite frequently, here is some interesting info I found out

http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/aromatherapyforpets.asp

http://www.naturalcatcareblog.com/2...-perfectly-safe-now-exploring-the-controversy

I found this on the ananda apothecary website, from the book: "Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals --- A Comprehensive Guide to the Use of Essential Oils & Hydrosols with Animals" by Kristen Leigh Bell
Below are some important points I gleaned from Section 5 of this book - titled "Aromatherapy for Cats --- Sensitive and Mysterious Creatures"

MANY ESSENTIAL OILS AND OTHER THINGS HARMLESS TO HUMANS AND DOGS ARE DANGEROUS FOR CATS

1) Feline hemaglobin, the molecule in the blood that carries oxygen, is extremely sensitive to drugs such as acetaminophen and allyl propyl disulfide (found in foods like onions). The end result is severe anemia and possibly death.

2) Cats do not have the necessary enzymes to break down certain substances and effectively excrete them. This leads to a build up of toxins in their bodies. The toxin buildup does not always manifest itself immediately in cats. Depending on the cat and what it is exposed to, it can show up in hours, days, weeks, months or even years. A cat with symptoms of essential oil toxicity may be despondent, clumsy and uncoordinated, sometimes partially paralyzed, vomiting, drooling and in a daze. A run of bloodwork on a cat showing such symptoms almost always reveals highly elevated enzyme levels and varying degrees of impaired liver function. Veterinarians see many cases of what they call "mystery poisoning" in cats. Sometimes Essential Oils are to blame.

3) Cats are uniquely sensitive to phenolics and other compounds containing benzene rings. Compounds preserved in benzyl alcohol are toxic to cats. Exercise caustion when administering phenol-containing essential oils as Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris or T. serpyllum) Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and Tea Tree (Melaleuca, Melaleuca alternifolia). Cats are adversely effected by certain essential oil components known as phenols and ketones, but veterinarians have also determined through toxicology reports that cats are MOST SENSITIVE to a specific group of essential oil constituents which other mammals are not --- MONOTERPENE HYDOCARBONS, specifically PINENE and LIMONENE having the MOST ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS. These two substances found most commonly in citrus and pine essential oils, are common ingredients in natural flea and tick repellants and shampoos, as well as natural citrus and pine cleaners. These products can wreak havoc on a cat's liver detoxification mechanisms.

ESSENTIAL OILS HIGH IN MONOTERPENE HYDROCARBONS:

Lemon (Citrus limon), Orange (Citrus sinesis), Tangerine (Citrus reticulata), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Lime (Citrus aurantifolia), Begamot (Citrus bergamia), Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Spruce (Picea mariana), Fir (Abies balsamica)

ESSENTIAL OILS HIGH IN PHENOLS:

OREGANO (Origanum vulgare), Thyme (Thyme vulgaris), Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata), Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis), Winter Savory (Satureja montana), Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia)


Although the author alleges that there some essential oils that are safe to use for cats, she claims there are too many risk factors and she discourages their use amongst laypeople. For this reason the author only includes recipes for cats based on hydrosols.

Wow, great detailed info....glad you posted it!

I find it unfortunate though that some of the companies out there are saying essential oils are safe to consume, even though many experts & people that have been in the business for years disagree, are also saying they're safe for your pets, cats included. All you have to do is google essential oils for cats & read some of the stuff that comes up.

My hope is that people not believe everything that's being told to them because someone else is trying to make a sale

I hope the next time someone searches threads on essential oils for cats they find this! Thanks again for the great detailed article. Essential Oils are wonderful natural, alternative remedies but they are still powerful and strong and in most cases should never be used full strength even on people.

I bet they'll find it. You did awesome by starting it! I'm just afraid they'll listen to the rep that's trying to sell them something

bump

I trusted the source that gave me a diffuser to use with essential oils..... "SURE it's safe for cats" the melaleuca oil and the branded version of an essential oil combination that rhymes with "leaves" nearly killed my little man.... thank God, I have a holistic vet and we figured it out quickly before he tanked too far